Clemens, Clara (Twain, Mark; Gabrilowitsch, Ossip)

My Father Mark Twain with: My Husband Gabrilowitsch

New York, NY: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1931; 1938. First Edition, Second Printing; First Edition. Hardcovers. One of two volumes signed by author Clara Clemens, daughter of Mark Twain. "Twenty long years have passed since my father was laid in the ground, yet had these years been only days the memory of that tragic event could not be more vivid. In the lovely month of April- month of soft green shades and playing breezes- the spirit of liberation, that comes with spring to the human heart after bitter winter blasts, reached my father in the form of all-consoling death. The great soul of Mark Twain was released from bondage. The realization that he must have welcomed this majestic progress into higher realms did not lessen the grief of those who were left to mourn." (Chapter I, "The Father of Three Little Girls," pg. 1) Thus begins Clara Clemens' (1874-1962) memoir of her father, the canonical American writer Samuel Clemens a/k/a Mark Twain. A heartfelt, richly detailed & evocative portrait of Twain's life & work with emphasis on the private family man. Twain's most full life was marked by personal & professional extremes of tragedy & fulfillment, agony & ecstasy. Clara's memoir is written in a neo-Victorian, floridly hyperbolic style as can be seen from the first paragraph quoted above. While affectionate & even reverent, certainly no "Daddy Dearest"- type of work, this memoir does not shy away from the dizzying ups-&-downs of one of America's & the world's greatest literary figures, or of his offspring. With eight pages of photo-illustrations disbursed throughout, & a frontispiece image depicting & captioned "Mark Twain Receiving His Degree at Oxford." Hardcover without scarce dust jacket, first edition, second printing as stated on copyright page. Originally published during 1931, this second printing may be from a shortly subsequent year. McBride, T1931.A3, pg. 433. Along with My Father Mark Twain, we have bundled Clara Clemens' biography-memoir of her husband, the acclaimed Russian-born American Pianist, conductor & composer Ossip Gabrilowitsch (1878-1936). Published two years after his death, this is another heartfelt tribute, this time to her husband & the father of their child Nina. There is of course also much anecdotal material on Twain. With twelve pages of photo-illustrations disbursed throughout, & a frontispiece portrait of Gabrilowisch at the piano. Hardcover without scarce dust jacket, first edition of 1938 as stated on copyright page. On a special page preceding frontispiece & title pages, Clara Clemens has hand-written her (beautiful) signature in bold blue ink below the printed statement: "In Sincere Appreciation/ of Your Inspiring Loyalty/ to a Great Musician." We can safely presume, therefore, that this is a first printing, & possibly a special limited edition, although there is no colophon. Also, there is a gift inscription dated in the year of publication (see below). Two rare & historic biographical & autobiographical volumes, both of which shed primary light on & are essential to scholars & collectors of the iconic Mark Twain, both written by & one with the signature of his own daughter. My Father Mark Twain in fine condition, missing dust jacket as noted above, with very mild rubbing to front, back covers & spine; mild-to-moderate wear & some tiny bumps, very short tears at edges & corners of same; mild rubbing & browning to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only light browning at blank margins & edges of page leaves, side edges of same uncut as issued. My Husband Gabrilowitsch very fine, missing dust jacket as noted above, with only a bit of rubbing to front, back covers & spine; very slight wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; one very small spot at lower left edge of back cover; mild rubbing & browning to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only very light browning to blank margins & edges of page leaves, side edges of same uncut as issued; vintage bookplate affixed to otherwise blank inner front cover; gift inscription from year of publication ("Christmas 1938") on blank page opposite inner front cover; small vintage sticker for the Book Shop of the famous, long-gone Hudson's Department Store in downtown Detroit, Michigan affixed to blank rear pastedown near lower left corner; small, faded numeral stamp near upper right corner of same. Fine; Very Fine. [Item #4216]

Price: $125.00